Coley Meadows, 3.viii.02 (DGN). Anax imperator (Aeshnidae) .... meadow (TR). Ptilodontella cucullina ... in garden (KT); Red Cow. Cottage, Cholsey, 29+.
The Reading Naturalist No. 55
Published by the Reading and District Natural History Society 2003
Price to Non Members £2.50
RECORDER’S REPORT FOR ENTOMOLOGY and other INVERTEBRATES 2002 David G. Notton Curator of Natural History, Reading Museum and Archive Service Readers will note that this year’s report includes all invertebrates, not just insects – thanks to Malcolm Storey for the Ash-grey Slug, the first non-insect record this year – I hope you will all be looking out for the girdled snail Hygromia cinctella so I can add that to next year’s list. Special thanks are due to Hugh Carter for his previous stint with the ‘Other Invertebrates’, Hugh deserves our congratulations as he has been submitting recorder’s reports for different groups since 1966! The order of families and nomenclature used is that given in the standard Royal Entomological Society checklists supplemented by Bradley and Fletcher for the Lepidoptera. Records presented are selected and edited: full details of all records submitted are available for examination on application to the Recorder at the address above. It is encouraged that voucher specimens are retained or deposited with the Museum for critical species. In addition to the records presented below, Berkshire moth enthusiasts are alerted to the publication of ‘Moths of Bracknell’ by the late M.J.Dumbleton, on the society’s website www.rdnhs.org.uk Thanks are due to Malcolm for undertaking the tedious job of digitisation and to Mrs Dumbleton and Reading Museum Service for making the manuscript available. Paper copies are available from Malcolm for anyone without web access. Selected specimens from the Dumbleton Collection have been acquired by Reading Museum Service and may be examined by appointment with the Curator of Natural History. INSECTA
Lepidoptera
Odonata
Hepialus humuli humuli (Hepialidae) Ghost
Platycnemis pennipes (Platycnemididae) White-
Swift. Red Cow Cottage, between 19.vi and 13.vii.02 (TR).
legged Damselfly. Coley Meadows, 3.viii.02 (DGN).
Zygaena filipendulae anglicola (Zygaenidae) Six-spot Burnet. Red Cow Cottage, large numbers for the second year running, (TR).
Agrion splendens (Agriidae) Banded Demoiselle. Red Cow Cottage, 1-2.vi and 29.vii.02 (TR); Coley Meadows, 3.viii.02 (DGN).
Erynnis tages (Hesperiidae) Dingy Skipper. Red Cow Cottage, 17.v.02 (TR).
Colias croceus (Pieridae) Clouded Yellow. Red Cow Cottage, a mating pair on 15.viii.02 (TR).
Lycaena phlaeas (Lycaenidae) Small Copper. Red Cow Cottage, recorded on 12 days between 2.v and 2.vi.02 a further 40 days between 22.vii and 18.x.02, with peak count of 10 on 30.vii (TR).
Agrion splendens Banded Demoiselle
Anax imperator (Aeshnidae) Emperor. Red Cow Aricia agestis Brown Argus. Red Cow Cottage,
Cottage, 22.v, 15.vii, 26.vii, 23.viii and 16.x.02 (TR).
recorded on 7 days between 25.v and 16.vi.02 and a further 18 days between 27.vii and 2.ix.02 with peak count of 7 on 26.viii (TR).
Libellula depressa (Libellulidae) Broad-bodied Chaser. Red Cow Cottage, 1.vi, 26-27.vi.02 (TR).
Celastrina argiolus Holly Blue.
Red Cow Cottage, recorded on 39 days between 26.iii and 14.vi.02 and a further 17 days between 5.vii and 19.viii.02 (TR). A good year for this species.
Orthoptera
Conocephalus discolor: (Conocephalidae) LongWinged Conehead. Coley Meadows, 3.viii.02, a female (DGN)
Melanargia galathea (Satyridae) Marbled White. Red Cow Cottage, recorded on 35 days from 23.vi to 12.viii.02, with peak count of 112 on 13.vii (TR).
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Drepana binaria (Drepanidae) Oak Hook-tip. Red Cow Cottage, 1718.viii.02 (TR).
amounts of Ladies’ Bedstraw Galium verum in meadow (TR).
Ptilodontella cucullina
Cyclophora punctaria (Geometridae) Maiden’s Blush. Red Cow Cottage, 20.viii and 26.viii.02 (TR); Upper Bucklebury, 18.v.02, in Heath trap (MWS).
(Notodontidae) Maple Prominent. Emmer Green, 18.vi.02, at light (JHFN).
Clostera
Cyclophora punctaria Maiden’s Blush
Chocolate Tip. Upper Bucklebury, 18.v.02, in Heath trap (MWS).
Lampropteryx suffumata
Phragmatobia fuliginosa
Water Carpet. Upper Bucklebury, 10.v.02, in Heath Trap (MWS).
Plemyria
curtula
(Arctiidae) Ruby Tiger. Coley Meadows, 3.viii.02 (DGN)
rubiginata
Callimorpha dominula
Blue-bordered Carpet Emmer Green, 18.vi.02, at light (JHFN).
Scarlet Tiger. Red Cow Cottage, 15.vii.02 (TR). Clostera curtula Chocolate Tip
Eupethecia venosata venosata Netted Pug. Red Cow Cottage, 6.vi.02 (TR).
Aplocera efformata Lesser Treble-bar. Red Cow
pisi
Xanthia citrago Orange Sallow. Red Cow
Cottage, 17.viii, 23.viii, 5.ix and 17.ix.02 (TR).
Cottage, 1.x.02 (TR).
Ligdia adustata Scorched Carpet. Upper Bucklebury, 4.v.02, at lighted window, in evening (MWS).
Mormo maura Old Lady. Red Cow Cottage, 28.viii.02 (TR).
Panemeria tenebrata Small Yellow Underwing. Hockett Field, 9.v.02 (MWS).
Semiothisa notata Peacock Moth. Red Cow Cottage, 14.viii and 20.viii.02 (TR).
Selenia tetralunaria Purple Thorn.
Ceramica
(Noctuidae) Broom Moth. Greenham Common, 31.viii.02 & 1.ix.02, larvae on Lesser Knapweed stem (MWS).
Catacola nupta Red Underwing.
Red Cow Cottage, at rest on walls 17.viii, 20.viii and 13.ix.02 (TR).
Upper
Bucklebury, 6.iv.02, in Heath trap (MWS).
Serraca punctinalis Pale Oak Beauty. Upper Bucklebury, 21.v.02 & 9.vi.02, in Heath trap (MWS).
Rivula sericealis Straw Dot. Coley Meadows, 3.viii.02, in numbers resting on grass during the day (DGN).
Ectropis consonaria Square Spot.
Upper Bucklebury, 11.v.02, in Heath Trap (MWS).
Hypena rostralis Buttoned Snout.
Red Cow Cottage, flying in the house 23.xii.02, presumably awakened from hibernation (TR). Emmer Green, 18.vi.02, at light (JHFN).
Ectropis extersaria Brindled White-spot. Upper Bucklebury, 23.v.02, in long grass near Heath trap (MWS).
Coleoptera
Aethalura punctulata Grey Birch.
Upper Bucklebury, 17-18.v.02, in Heath Trap (MWS).
Carabus auratus (Carabidae) Golden Gardener. Reading, 3.vii. 01 in urban residential area, noctumal in dark alleyway, also resting on vertical brick wall (TDH). This colony was recorded in 1962 and is clearly well established. (Price, A. 1969. Ent. Mon. Mag. (1968) 104:229).
Smerinthus ocellata (Sphingidae) Eyed hawk. Red Cow Cottage, 15.vi.02 (TR). Deilephila porcellus Small Elephant Hawk. Red Cow Cottage, recorded on 11 days between 23.v and 13.vii.02, numbers possibly due to large
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Enochrus isotae (Hydrophilidae). Ot Moor, 22.ii.01, in flood debris beside pond in unimproved grassland (TDH).
Amphimallon solstitialis Summer Chafer. Red Cow Cottage, June-July, (TR).
Melolontha melolontha Cockchafer. Red Cow Cottage, numerous, between 24.iv and 2.vi.02, some in moth trap (TR).
Aeletes atomarius (Histeridae).
Burnham Beeches, 2.xii.01, extracted by Tullgren funnel from old ant nest inside fallen hollow Beech branch in deciduous woodland (TDH).
Malthinus balteatus (Cantharidae) a soldier beetle. Near Gatehampton Manor, Goring, 1.vii.01, beaten from hazel at edge of Yew woodland (TDH).
Myrmetes piceus (Histeridae).
Burnham Beeches, 2.xii.01, extracted by Tullgren funnel from old ant nest inside fallen hollow Beech branch in deciduous woodland (TDH).
Ptinus
sexpunctatus (Ptinidae) Upper Bucklebury, 20.iv.02, on outside of house wall with partially eaten dead Centipede (MWS). I find this small beetle indoors nearly every spring; it is said to be associated with mining bees – we have masonry bees (MWS).
Leiodes litura (Leiodidae). Near Hitchcopse Pit, 24.xi.01, general sweeping in copse of Elm trees. (TDH). Platystethus nodifrons (Staphylinidae) a rove beetle. Ot Moor, 22.ii.01, In flood debris in ditch in area of unimproved grassland (TDH).
Euaesthetus bipunctatus (Staphylinidae) a rove beetle. Ot Moor, 22.ii.01, In flood debris beside pond in unimproved grassland (TDH).
Quedius brevis (Staphylinidae) a rove beetle. Burnham Beeches, 2.xii.01, extracted by Tullgren funnel from old ant nest in fallen hollow Beech branch, in woodland (TDH).
Leptusa ruficollis (Staphylinidae) a rove beetle. Pamber Forest, 22.ix.01, beating oak in Oak wodland (TDH).
Ptinus sexpunctatus (Rhizophagidae). Burnham Beeches, 2.xii.01, extracted by Tullgren funnel from old ant nest in fallen hollow Beech branch, in woodland (TDH).
Monotoma
Atheta (Philhygra) debilis (Staphylinidae) a rove beetle. Ot Moor, 22.ii.01, under bark of Willow log in water filled ditch in area of unimproved grassland (TDH).
Cryptamorpha desjardinsi (Silvanidae). Wyld Court, near Hampstead Norris, 6.v.01, under peeling stem sheaths of banana plant in tropical greenhouse (TDH).
Atheta (Anopleta) corvina (Staphylinidae) a rove beetle. Windsor Forest, 17.xi.01, In Beefsteak Fungus Fistulina hepatica on Oak tree (TDH).
Abdera quadrifasciata (Melandryidae). Basildon Park, 5.vii.01, beaten from dead branch on living Oak in deciduous wood (TDH).
Calodera uliginosa (Staphylinidae) a rove beetle. Ot Moor, 22.ii.01, in flood debris beside pond in unimproved grassland (TDH).
Lucanus
Zeugophora subspinosa
cervus
(Chrysomelidae) a leaf beetle. Pamber Forest, 22.ix.01, beaten from aspen in mixed deciduous wood (TDH).
(Lucanidae) Stag Beetle. Purley, 26.vi.02, one female in garden (KT); Red Cow Cottage, Cholsey, 29+ individuals between 31.v and 7.viii.02, including some fighting males (TR).
Dorcus
Cassida
parallelipipedus
(Lucanidae) Lesser Stag Beetle. Red Cow Cottage, 18.vi.02 (TR).
conicicollis
Dorcus parallelipipedus Lesser Stag Beetle
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prasina
(Chrysomelidae) a leaf beetle. Aston Rowant NNR, 4.i.01, in moss on calcareous grassland (TDH).
Rhynchites olivaceus (Atellabidae) a weevil. Basildon Park 28.iv.01, resting on leaf of ash sapling in deciduous wood (TDH).
Diptera
Hartigiola annulipes (Cecidomyidae) a gall midge. Ashampstead Common, galls numerous on leaves of Beech 9.xi.02 (KHG).
Apion urticarium (Apionidae) a weevil. Near Wroxhills Wood, near Goring 13.x.01, beaten from Stinging Nettles Urtica dioica at edge of woodland (TDH).
Psychoda surcoufi (Psychodidae) A moth fly. Upper Bucklebury, 24.xi.02, females and males on plastic compost bins (MWS). The subgenital plate of one of the females was heart-shaped with diverging lobes and sensory tufts near base. The gonostyli of the males had the base swollen and the tip tapering to a swollen point. Apparently very rare when Freeman wrote his 1960 monograph, it is now much more common – perhaps due to the increase in plastic dustbins! (MWS).
Apion fuscirostre (Apionidae) a weevil. Basildon Park 28.iv.01, beaten from Broom Sarothamnus scoparius in area of Gorse scrub in parkland (TDH).
Apion cerdo (Apionidae) a weevil. Near Ardley, Oxon 22.vi.01, obtained by general sweeping of grassland flora on limestone railway embarkment (TDH).
Asilus
crabroniformis (Asilidae) Hornet Robberfly. Red Cow Cottage, 68 sightings between 25.vii and 7.ix.02 (TR).
Magdalis barbicornis (Curculionidae) a weevil. Quarry near Ardley, Oxon 22.vi.01, beaten from willow on limestone railway embarkment (TDH).
Volucella zonaria (Syrphidae) Hornet Hoverfly. Central Reading, puparia found in garden 18.vi.02, presumably having been scavenging in a wasp nest in the roof of an adjacent house, six imagines emerged 19-21.vi.02. (DN). Vouchers in Reading Museum Service collection.
Magdalis ruficornis (Curculionidae) a weevil. Near Ardley, Oxon 22.vi.01, beaten from hawthorn on limestone railway embarkment (TDH).
Anthonomus bituberculatus (Curculionidae) a
Phytomyza hellebori (Agromyzidae) Hellebore
weevil. Windsor Forest 17.xi.01, beaten from dead branch of Oak in open woodland (TDH).
leaf-mining fly. Emmer Green, 4.iv.02, leaf mines on Stinking Hellebore Helleborus foetidus (JHFN). Flies and mines in Reading Museum Service collection.
Anthonomus bituberculatus (Curculionidae) a weevil. Hitchcopse Pit 24.xi.01, general beating of Oak and Hawthom in hedge at edge of disused sand pit (TDH).
MOLLUSCA Gastropoda
Hymenoptera
Tenthredo
Limax cinereoniger (Limacidae) Ash-grey Slug.
scrophulariae
(Tenthredinidae) Figwort Sawfly. Coley Meadows, 3.viii.02, on Common Figwort, Scrophularia nodosa (DGN)
Bucklebury Lower Common, 23.iii.02, between the mounds (MWS).
Vespa crabro (Vespidae) Hornet. Upper Bucklebury, 15.vi.02, in garage (MWS). For several years I thought I saw one at a distance a few times each spring, but this time I got close enough to be absolutely sure. In flight the sound they make is much more Harley-Davidson (aka lawnmower engine) than a queen wasp! (MWS).
Limax cinereoniger Ash-grey Slug - sole CONTRIBUTORS Thanks are due to the following members for their submissions: (JHFN) John Notton; (KHG) Ken Grinstead; (KT) Ken Thomas; (MWS) Malcolm Storey; (TDH) Tom Harrison; (TR) Tony Rayner. 31
